Results 39,181-39,200 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Interdepartmental Committees (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: I am concerned about the Government's lack of enthusiasm for dealing with the climate change issue, the environment generally and the green economy. These are serious issues.

Interdepartmental Committees (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: They will not go away.

Interdepartmental Committees (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: It may be politically expedient in the short term to put them to one side. I do not get any sense that the Government is engaging with the fundamental energy and climate change challenges that will face this country and the world as a whole in the years ahead. The fact the Cabinet sub-committee has met on just two occasions is a manifestation of the Government's inertia on these issues. It...

Order of Business (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: I seek the guidance of the Chair on a matter. We have read with some astonishment this morning about €50,000 worth of toners being procured from the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Order of Business (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Has the Oireachtas a means of inquiring into this matter because I find it incredible that one individual would use this quantity?

Order of Business (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: I acknowledge that changes have been made but I ask if the changes were made as a result of this practice. Either one entire political party was using the toners because it is incomprehensible that one individual would use €50,000 worth of toners-----

Order of Business (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: That is much appreciated. I have a question about promised legislation on the fiscal treaty. Given the earlier announcement about a referendum, I ask the Taoiseach to outline to the House whether he intends to establish a forum within the House to discuss this matter in greater detail. When will the Referendum Commission be appointed? When is the fiscal responsibility Bill to be...

Order of Business (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Will the Taoiseach consider a special sub-committee of the Committee on European Affairs to consider the treaty and the referendum Bill? There is a need for detailed all-party discussion with a view to getting a grip on the treaty.

Referendum on European Stability Treaty: Statements (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Will there be an opportunity to respond?

Referendum on European Stability Treaty: Statements (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: We will seize the moment.

Referendum on European Stability Treaty: Statements (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the Ceann Comhairle's intervention and warmly welcome the provision of time to Members of the Opposition. It is unfortunate that the Government did not organise that in advance of this session.

Referendum on European Stability Treaty: Statements (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: This is our national Parliament. I appreciate what the Ceann Comhairle has done and I want to make a constructive contribution on what I just heard. We were notified of this matter eight minutes ago. For future reference, when decisions of this moment are being announced, a short telephone call to the Opposition leaders should be made to allow for some time, particularly when we want...

Referendum on European Stability Treaty: Statements (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the decision. It is the right one and it should not have required a legal opinion. It is a very important treaty and the people have a right to decide. I asked over two weeks ago at the Institute of International and European Affairs how we could honestly expect people to be happy if they are told a treaty is important enough to save the euro but not important enough for them to...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: I take it that we will have a further opportunity later in the week to discuss the referendum. Is that the Taoiseach's intention?

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Tomorrow, okay.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate that.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: That will give us a good opportunity to discuss it at greater length. I appreciate that. To return to domestic matters, I know we are at the first anniversary of the Government and so forth, but last week I was in the north west and met many people there. I was struck that, a year after the general election, people were still talking about broken promises that were made in respect of that...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: One year later, 1,000 people will have their home helps removed. People across the north west are angry and annoyed at the fact there has been no attempt at all to fulfil the commitments that were solemnly given by the Taoiseach's party and his partners in Government, the Labour Party, to establish the ninth centre of excellence for cancer care in the north west. Will the Taoiseach indicate...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: There is not a long list. I suggest the term "intimate acquaintance" is the wrong one for the definition of the Taoiseach's relationship with the issues in Donegal. It is getting hostile in terms of people's sense of grievance about a breach of promise. It is specifically around cancer care and the commitments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, the Tánaiste and the Fine Gael...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: That has nothing to do with my question.